or hath had a minde to doe any displeasure to any man If he haue enuied others beeing sorye for their good or reioycing at their euell If hee haue had any disordered affection or sensuall or carnal loue towardes any person By Wordes Chap. 8 IF he haue murmured or detracted the good name of others or falsly or not with right intention hath spoken euill of others or reuealed their secret sinnes If hee haue spoken euill of his Prelates and Princes and murmured against them If hee haue giuen eare vnto others which did murmur or speake of vnlawfull thinges beeing cause with his harkening that they went on in such speeches If hee haue omitted to vse due correction to his Neighbour when he was bounde able to performe the same If he haue spoken vntruethes or with preiudice of others exaggerated matters more than they were If hee haue spoken iniurious wordes or mocked or scoffed or cursed others or wished anie harme to his Neighbours either aliue or dead Those which are Parentes or Rulers of Families if they haue cursed or wished any cuell to their Children or others of the Family or if they haue not reprehended them when it was conuenient nor procured to make them Learne whatsoeuer a Christian ought to knowe If he haue flattered others or giuen them euill counsaile prouoking them to euill or hindering them from that which is good or in anye other sort causing them to bee disolute or to committe anye sinne If he haue spoken of such things as are lasciuious or vnseemely and if heerein hee haue giuen anye euill edification or scandall to his Neighbour By Deedes Chap. 9 IF he haue beene disobedient to his Father or Mother or Superiours haue not caried them that respecte and honour which is due Those which haue a Family if they haue behaued themselues euill towardes the persons thereof or neglected to correcte them in thinges which concerne the offence of GOD and the hurte of their soules If he haue suffered himselfe to be ouercome with choller and if he haue donne or caused any euill to others If he haue taken or vsurped any thing of others or reteined the hire of others or broken lawfull promises If in buying or selling he haue vsed fraude and deceit or in other sort damnified his Neighbour in Temporall thinges If hee haue omitted to giue Almes and to succour the poore according to his ability If for anye feare or humane respecte he haue lefte vndonne anie worke appertaining to the glorie of GOD his Owne or his Neighbours Saluation Towardes himselfe And first by Thought Chap. 10. IF he haue esteemed himselfe of more worth or goodnesse than others for any inward or outward goods which he thinketh he hath taking therein vaine-glory desiring to bee for that cause more esteemed than others or commended If he haue lingered in idle vain or ambitious thoughts taking ther in delight or desired inordinately Honours Riches Dignities c. Concerning Chastity if he haue had temptations of the fleshe or any euil desire or vnclean thoughts in which he hath staied or taken delight not presenlye reiecting them By Wordes Chap. 11. IF he haue willinglye spoken of himselfe of his own affaires amplifying or praising the same Of idle iesting or vnse emelye talking If for anye impatience or despaire he hath called on the diuell or wished any harme to himselfe By Deedes Chap. 12. IF with beholding or toucing or by other way he haue giuen occasion of anye temptation or if he haue donne any other sinne against Christian Modesty If he haue giuen occasion vnto any nightly illusion or taken anye delight or liking therein Those which are younge and especiallye Women if they haue vsed superfluous dresses for vanitie or with intention of pleasing others If in eating or drinking he haue made any excesse or desired exquisite things vsing ouermuch solicitudes to satisfy herein rather his sense than his necessity Of the losse of TIME or euell spending thereof in vnlawfull Games and other inconuenient pastimes If he haue conuersed with dissolute persons which prouoke him to euell or if hee haue entered into anye occasion or danger of sinne If he haue reade lasciuious or prohibited BOOKES Besides all the aforesaid things such as haue Offices or particular degrees and exercises must examine themselues of the defaultes which therein are wonte to happen aecording to the obligation of euerie one Finallye concerning this EXAMEN it is expedient to admonishe this one thing that when a man hath EXAMINED himselfe it is not necessarye afterwarde neither ought he when he CONFESSETH to discourse through all these points but it suffiseth to accuse himselfe onely of those whereof in his Examining he found himselfe faulty For it is not meant by this EXAMEN to make mens CONSCIENCES become scrupulous but only to set down that which may serue for al althought it is certaine that in many of these pointes all persons are not wonte to offende Of the sorrowe for Sinnes Chap. 13. AFter that thou hast examined thy selfe making reflection on those sinnes which thy Conscience is a witnesse of against thee First thou shalt conceiue thereof a confusion of thy selfe Considering thy smal amendment and spiritual profite whereas going so ofte to Confession notwithstanding thou neuer wantest matter to Confesse but rather alwaies findest in thy selfe the very same defectes For which cause thou hast great cause to feare that thou goest not with that sorrowe and effectual purpose which were conuenient but rather for a certaine custome Wherfore thou regarding so litle thy amendment it is to be feared that God will withdrawe frō thee his grace and it shall be saied vnto thee Because thou art lukewarme I will beginne to vomit thee forth Then Considering the greate bonde thou hast to warde the Diuine goodnesse and howe much thy most louing Redeemer hath donne and suffered for to drawe thee to his loue to the obseruation of his holy Cōmaundements seeing howe thou doest thus render him euill for good thou shalt conceiue sorrowe of thy so great malice and ingratitude humbly asking pardon thou shalt desire him that he will voutsafe with his Heauenly grace to reforme thy affections and euil inclinations that for the time to come thou maiest no more offend him Finally thou shalt make a sirme purpose to amend thy life asking of his Diuine Maiestye Grace and helpe for that effecte Of Confession Chap. 14 VVHEN thou goest to CONFESSION consider that whensoeuer thou goest to receiue this Sacrament thou goest to washe thy selfe in the Bloode of CHRIST our Sauiour the vertue whereof worketh in the SACRAMENTS See therefore with howe great reuerence thankes-giuing thou oughtest to goe to receiue such a Medicine which so deerely cost him who made it for thee Then in Confession it selfe thou shalt indeuour to obserue three thinges First to Confesse intirely all thy sinnes which thou doest remember and of which thy Conscience hath remorse Explicating with al the kindes of
haue dissuaded or hindered any from entring into Religion Of the second Commaundement of taking the name of God in vaine Chap. 11. IF hee haue sworne that which was false knowing it to be a lye or doubting of the same although it were in lest or of a matter of small importance If hee haue sworne to promise any lawfull thing which afterward he hath not obserued or had not intention to performe it at that time in which he did sweare If he haue beene cause that any did sweare false or not obserue the lawfull oathe which he made If he haue sworne in manner of cursing as men are wonte to say if I doe not such a thing lett such or such euell happen vnto me If he hath sworne to do any euil or any thing which was a sin or not to doe any thing which was good If in iudgement he hath sworne false or beeing asked by order of law he hath not aunswered agreablely to the intentioÌ„ of the Iudge or hath counsailed others for to doe the like In which case not only he sinneth Mortally but if thereof folowed any harme of his neighbour he is bound to Restitution If hee haue had a custome of swearing ofte without consideration or care to knowe whether it were true or false If he haue made a vow of doing any good thing hath not cared to performe it or hath deferred ouermuch the execution thereof If he haue made any vowe with a minde of not fulfilling it If he haue made a vowe of not doing any good thing or of doing any euell thing or of doing any good thing for an euell ende Of the third Commaundement of Sanctifying the Holy-Dayes Chap. 12. IF he haue not obserued the holy daies but either done himselfe or commaunded others to do such woorkes as are prohibited by the CHVRCH or consented vnto those which doe the like If he haue omitted to heare a whole MASSE vpon the holy-daies commaunded without lawfull cause or hath beene cause that others did leaue the same If being present at MASSE vpon any holy-day commaunded he hath beene for any notable time voluntarily distracted by talking laughing or busying himselfe in impertinent thinges If hee haue not procured that those which bee vnder his charge doe heare MASSE vpon the holy-daies If he haue not gone to Confession at the least once a YEARE or haue not procured that others of his charge haue donne the same If hee haue gone to Confession without necessary examination of conscience or without purpose of leauing any sinne or for shamefastnesse or other humane respect hath concealed any sinne which is a most grieuous Sacriledge If euery yeare at EASTER hee hath Receiued and that with conuenient disposition If with a conscience or doubt of Mortall sinne he hath Receiued or Ministred anye Sacrament of the Church If hee haue fasted the LENT VIGILS EMBER daies beeing bound thereunto and if on such dayes hee hath eaten prohibited meates or hath beene cause of others doing the same If for Gluttony he woulde not haue regarded to doe against anye coÌ„maundement or if he haue eaten or druncke ouer largely with notable detriment of his health or if voluntarily he hath ben dronck If he haue violated the Church with any carnall sinne or with sheding of blood If he haue incurred any excommunication or whilest he was excommunicate haue receaued any Sacrament or bene present at the holy offices of the Church or if he hath conuersed with excommunicate persons or such as were suspected of Heresy If he haue done any iniury or irreuerence vnto Images Relickes or other sacred thinges If being bound to say his office he haue omitted it wholly or any part therof or in the saying of it bene voluntarily distracted If for slouth or negligence he hath lefte vndone any good worke vnto which he was bound Of the fourth Commaundement of honouring Parentes Chap. 13. IF he haue borne litle reuerence to his FATHER MOTHER despising them or offending them with Deedes or iniurious Wordes If he haue cursed his father or his mother or detracted their good name or dishonoured theÌ„ in their absence If hee haue not obeied his Parents or Superiours in iust matters such as might result to notable detriment of the family or of their owne soule If when his Parents haue beene in necessity he hath not succoured them if it were in his power If deliberately hee haue desired their death that he might haue the inheritance c. If he haue not fufilled their Testamentes and Last-Willes after their death If he haue loued his Parentes in such sort that for their loue hee hath not cared to offend God If he haue not obserued the iust Lawes Decres of his sâ—periours If he haue detracted or spoken euill of Superiours Ecclesiasticall or Seculer of RELIGIOVS persons Priestes Teachers c. If hee haue not succoured the Poore if he could especially in extreame or grieuous necessity or if he haue beene sterne or cruell vnto them intreating them sharply with wordes or deedes If those which be FATHERS MOTHERS haue cursed or wished euill vnto their Children Also if they haue brought them vp as they shoulde teaching them their praiers Christian Doctrine and reprehending them and correcting them especially in matter of sinne and occupying them in some honest exercise to the ende they be not idle take some euell course That which is said of Children is vnderstoode also of Seruauntes and other of the Family of whom care is to be had that they knowe thinges which be necessary obserue the COMMAVNDEMENTS of God and of the Church Of the fifth Commaundement Thou shalt not kill Chap. 14. IF hee haue carried hatred towardes any person desiring to be reuenged and howe long hee hath staied therein If hee haue desired any mannes death or other great euell domage as well in his bodye as in good name honor temporall and spirituall goods If he haue been angry with any person with mind to doe him any harme or to be reuenged of him If contending with others or in other sort he hath striken wounded or killed or commaunded or consented vnto others to doe the same or beeing donne by others approued it or giuen aide counsaile or fauour thereunto If hauing offended others hee hath refused to demaunde pardon or reconciliation or haue not sufficiently satisfied for the offence If he haue refused to pardon or to remitte iniuries to those which haue offended him If for hatred hee haue omitted for to speake vnto or to salute others although without hatred yet with scandal of our Neigâ—bor If in aduersities and misfortunes he haue desired death or with fury and anger hath stroken and cursed himselfe or mentioned the diuell If he haue cursed others either aliue or dead with what inteÌ„tioÌ„ If he haue sowed discorde or caused enmity betweene others what harme hath ensued thereof If for hatred or enuye he hath beene immoderately sorye for the good and prosperity
them the number and the necessarye circumstances as much as possibly thou canst Secondlye to procure a plainnesse and clearenesse in speaking which may proceede from an ernest desire of beeing well vnderstoode to the ende that thou maâ—est be the better holpen and directed by thy GHOSTLY FATHER Wheras the Scripture saieth Qui abscondit scelera sua non dirigetur Who hideth his offences shall not be directed Thou must therefore tell them sincerelye not hiding not excusing nor diminishing any thing without superfluous wordes or telling of stories which make not to the matter much lesse telling the sinnes of others but accusing thy selfe alone Thirdly thou must goe to Confession with preparation not onlie to receiue the Penance to make such Satisfaction as thy Confessor shall enioine thee but also to admitte all the aduises and remedies which for thy sinnes and greater Spirituall good shall be giuen thee by the same For all in vaine doth a sicke person open his infirmities to the Phisition if afterward he refuse to take the Medicines and to obserue the orders rules which the Phisition hath prescribed Of the purpose and meanes of Amendment Chap. 15 AFTER thou hast made thy Confession thou must procure to obserue three thinges The first is presentlye to perfourme the Penance enioined renewing thy purpose of abstaining from those sinnes which thou hast Confessed and from all others of auoiding the occasions of the same The second is that thou take such meanes as may helpe thee for thy amendment hauing particular regard of some defectes which thou thinkest are the cause roote of all the rest procuring to arme thy selfe against the same 1 The remedies which maye be vsed for to roote out anye vice or imperfection are either generall or particular Amongest those which are generall the first is a firme resolution not to committe anye more the same sinne which purpose thou must often renue especially in the MORNING and whensoeuer it happneth that thou fall into the same 2 It will helpe much to flye the occasions which are wonte to induce vnto the same sin as sportes euill-companye familiaritye with suspeccted persons curiosity in beholding or hearing and ouermuch talke for it is written that Deathe entereth in by the Windowes 3 It auaileth also much diligentlye for to resiste at the verye beginning of the temptations driuing awaye from thee the sparke of the euell thought before it enter and set fire on thy HEART Which a man maye doe by present recourse vnto PRAIER or by naming the most Holye name of IESVS or by signing himselfe with his Holye SIGNE or by present setting before his eies the pittifull figure of CHRIST on the CROSSE Wounded and peirsed for the punishment of our sinnes 4 Verye profitable also for the conseruing of the purpose of not offending GOD is the often hearing of the Worde of GOD and reading of good BOOKES auoiding to read euil vaine or lasciuious BOOKES For the Worde of GOD collecteth the HEART mitigateth PASSIONS and filleth our WILL with good and Holy desires 5 To the same ende helpeth also to goe alwaies in the presence of god as of a witnes of our thoughts and operations of whom after we are to be iudged 6 When any person feeleth anye rebellion of the fleshe very profitable it is to vse the body with austerity as well in Sleeping Eating Drincking and Cloathing as in other thinges which might be pleasing thereunto For whereas the fleshe is a nourisher and kindler of al disordered Passions howe much the more weake and feeble it shall be so much the more feeble and fainte will the Passions bee also which from thence shall proceed 7 It is a very great remedye also for to shunne idlenesse which is the fountaine foode of all vices alwaies procuring to haue some honest exercise of minde or body that the Diuell maye neuer finde place in the soule 8 Much also helpeth heereunto the consideration of such thinges as may induce a man vnto feare as of Death of the finall Iudgement and of the paines Euerlasting prepared for sinners Or the consideration of the benefits of God and of his Diuine promises for to stirre vs vp vnto his loue and to the hatred of all that which is offensiue to his Diuine goodnesse 9 Finally a most effectuall remedie is to frequent the vse of the most holy Sacraments of Confession and Communion For as the Apostle saith the principall remedie against sinne is the grace of God which by these Sacraments is obtained besides that they be instituted by Christ our Sauiour as certaine Heauenly medicines not only for to deliuer vs from sinnes but also for to heale our disordered affections to suppresse our passions to remedy our weakenesse and finally as certaine kindlers of loue whereby our WILL beeing inflamed maye more easilye resist our euill inclinations and ouercome all the temptations of the Worlde the Fleshe and the Diuell Besides all these there bee also other remedies more particular proper for euerye defecte which maye be vsed and applied according to the counsaile of the Confessour And both these and the other also ought to bee admitted with great courage and perseuerance with a sure hope of victory grounded on the helpe grace of Christ our Lord. The third and last thing which a man ought to obserue after Confession because it is written that it is not sufficient to forsake euell but it is necessarye also for to doe good is for to vse all manner of diligence for the recompence of sinnes which we haue committed in the time past with newe seruices and feruour and to procure by the memory of the euills committed to become euery daye more humble and feruent in the exercise of good Workes occupying our selues not onelie in workes of Penance and of Deuotion but more particularly in the workes of Charity mercy towards our Neighbour For as it is written They which shall vse mercy shall also finde mercye before Almightye God A MEDITATION FOR THE HOLIE COMMVNION THE PREPARATION FOR the Meditation WHEREAS such is the excellency of the Sacrament of the BODY and BLOOD of our LORD that if thou hadest all the purity of Angels and the holinesse of Saint IOHN BAPTIST thou shouldest notwithstanding in no sorte bee worthy to receiue it for this cause in that wherein humaine frailtye doth faile whereas our LORD wil so haue it and so commaundeth thou shalt runne vnto the helpe of his grace asking him a great hunger and burning desire of this holy Meate and that with a most profound humilitye reuerence thou maiest approch to this Sacrament to the ende that it may worke in thee those effectes which it vseth to cause in the worthy receiuers Pointes for the Meditation THINKE with thy selfe that thou art muiâ—ed of our Lord that thou maiest be made worthy to sit in the company of the Angels at his Table by those most louing wordes Venite comedite Panem meum